21 years before its sequel – World War II – the world subsequently witnessed the first war that absorbed the thin line between humanity and hostility. The war that later became known as World War I not only claimed 37 million lives but also fueled World War II, which managed to increase its previous tally of people killed as a result of the two extinctions by an additional 75 million increase world wars.
Well, World War I could be the forgotten war, as many scholars like to say (simply because those who saw it are too old to remember anything. Also, they were too young to understand the seriousness of a war, as combatants were busy counting victory as more and more people fell), but it is so definitely a war that has left an indelible mark on human history.
In case you don’t know much about the war, here are 10 disturbing World War I facts to keep you informed:
1. The 65,038,800 soldiers mobilized during the war
A ballpark of 65,038,800 men and women were mobilized during this war. Of these, 8.4 million came from France, 8.9 million from Great Britain, 12 million from Russia, 11 million from Germany, 5.6 million from Italy, 4.3 million from the USA and 7.8 million from Austria-Hungary. Russia recorded the highest number of casualties (9, 150,000), followed by Austria-Hungary, which recorded over 90% of the casualties at the hands of the troops it mobilized. Of the total troops mobilized, 8,538,315 foot soldiers were killed, 7,750,919 taken prisoners and another 21,220,000 wounded during the war.
2. The fake Paris
In order to fool the German pilots into bombing the wrong Paris, Paris built an artificial Paris with streets and railways lit up at night. This fake city was designed to bear the same resemblance to the real Paris and when bombers hit it only the fake buildings and railway lines were destroyed but no casualties were recorded. And as strange as this simple trick sounds, it actually helped save millions of lives in France.
3. Before World War II
Before World War II, World War I passed, call it the Great War, or just World War I. It was after World War II (September 1914 to be exact) that English speaking countries began to refer to it as World War I. In fact, the name was first used by a German philosopher, Ernst Haeckel, who claimed how the course unfolded and the nature of that war entitled it to the name First World War.
4. Some unexploded ordnance is believed to remain active to this day
The ancient battlefields of Belgium and France are believed to still have unexploded ordnance that could reignite the nightmares of war for anyone who makes the mistake of stepping on them. Because of this, certain areas – like the Canadian Vimy memorial in France – have been closed to visitors. Further confirmation comes from the farmers who used to work in the fields, as they specifically warn other people not to visit such areas.
5. 198 US soldiers were rescued by a pigeon
The history of America recognizes Cheri Ami as one of its heroes during the war. Even more surprising is that Cheri Ami wasn’t a soldier, but a bird that flew past gunfire to save 198 US soldiers from the hands of their enemies. You see, these soldiers, after fighting hard against their enemies, were surrounded. And in their desperate attempt to save themselves from impending death, they decided to send a line of pigeons upstairs to announce their position so they could attract the US Army’s attention. Most of the bird fell after being pelted with bullets, but only the brave Cher flew – although he was injured in the process – to save the 198 US foot soldiers.
6. Hitler’s mustache
Before the war, the world knew Hitler with a full moustache. But all that changed after World War I… a deadly Hitler with a mustache that could never grow past the size of a toothbrush was born. It turns out that Hitler was forced to trim his full mustache just to wear a gas mask, and when he discovered how the trimmed mustache improved his not-so-handsome looks, he decided to embrace the idea. And this is the Hitler we all know came about.
7. The Chinese workers recruited by the British
British had an additional force consisting of Chinese workers. These workers did not take part in the war but are responsible for the trenches that destroyed most of Britain’s enemies during the war. And as you ponder how cruel the British government must have been in forcing Chinese people to do this, you marvel that these workers were actually recruited by the British army through the Chinese government.
8. Concrete ships were used during the war
Demand for ships prior to World War I exceeded the amount of steel available at the time. However, since every nation needed a warship armed to the teeth, an alternative material had to be found that could replace steel. This is how the idea of concrete ships came about, which led to the first 10 concrete ships in the world. In fact, some of these ships are still preserved in the coastal city of British Columbia.
9. India supported the Allies
The British were indeed afraid of an Indian uprising during the war. But instead of outraging, the Indians expressed unprecedented support and loyalty to Britain with the hope that this might improve the cause of their Indian home rule. They provided an army literally inferior to the British army, and then sent a large amount of money, ammunition and food to the British army in battle. 47,746 Indian soldiers were killed and another 65,126 were wounded.
10. War crushed the four European empires
No war ever changed the map of Europe after World War I – including World War II. All four great empires of the time were completely wiped out by the war: the Austro-Hungarian, German, Russian and Ottoman. Some nations regained their independence after the war as new ones formed. Four dynasties—Habsburg, Hohenzollern, Ottoman, and Romanov—merged with their adjuvant zaristocracies.
These are some of the disturbing facts of WWI that will surely amaze you